Headline News 20/05/2017

• Headlines:

America building Muslim Colonial Force to Preserve American Empire

America now building Saudi Navy to Counter China

US-Russian Collaboration in Syria becoming more open

Details:

America building Muslim Colonial Force to Preserve American Empire

US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Saudi state, which begins today, is designed to informally launch what is being called the ‘Arab NATO’, although it comprises both Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries, and the official name of the force is the “Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism” (IMAFT). According to an article earlier this week at the Washington Post website:

“When President Trump arrives in Riyadh this week, he will lay out his vision for a new regional security architecture White House officials call an “Arab NATO,” to guide the fight against terrorism and push back against Iran. As a cornerstone of the plan, Trump will also announce one of the largest arms-sales deals in history.

Behind the scenes, the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia have been conducting extensive negotiations, led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions began shortly after the presidential election, when Mohammed, known in Washington as “MBS,” sent a delegation to meet with Kushner and other Trump officials at Trump Tower.”

In fact the true reality of this ‘Arab NATO’ is that it will be firmly under the control of the West. The United States is becoming increasingly like its superpower predecessor, Britain, in manipulating others into fighting wars for it. After the deep trauma of Afghanistan and Iraq, the US is increasingly reluctant to engage its own forces, and depending increasingly on agent states to carry its burden. Britain notoriously managed its empire, particularly the vast, populous and highly wealthy subcontinent of India with the minimal of British civilian and military officers, playing off locals against each other and employing them to man its colonial army. Now America is in effect creating a colonial army to manage its Muslim empire on its behalf.

America now building Saudi Navy to Counter China

Analysis of the $100 billion plus arms deal that America is providing the Saudi regime reveals a significant maritime component. According to Bloomberg:

“The U.S. has reached a $6 billion deal for Saudi Arabia to buy four Littoral Combat Ships made by Lockheed Martin Corp. in a package of major arms purchases as President Donald Trump travels to the kingdom, people familiar with the transaction said.”

According to analysis in ‘The War Zone’ at thedrive.com:

“For Saudi Arabia, it has to be relatively clear that new naval capabilities are essential to confront what the Pentagon refers to as “anti-access/area-denial” capabilities. Additionally, the Saudis are coming to terms with the reality that they have two strategic shipping choke points to keep open, plus the need to have a stronger, more persistent presence in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. With this in mind and with so much Saudi treasure having been spent on the Saudi Air Force and Army, as well as the country’s Praetorian Guard-like Saudi Arabian National Guard, it’s the Royal Saudi Navy’s turn to replenish its fleet with fresh U.S. weaponry.”

These arms sales are being portrayed as necessary to counter Iran. However, like the Saudi-led war against Yemen, the true purpose of this build up is to counter Chinese expansionism. China is increasing its presence in the Arabian Gulf; China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative includes sea routes that pass the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula; and both China and Saudi are building naval bases in Djibouti. America wishes to use its Saudi agent against this Chinese threat.

US-Russian Collaboration in Syria becoming more open

With the Trump administration’s delegation of Syrian operations to the Pentagon, America’s collaboration with Russia is increasingly requiring military-to-military contact. Obama’s strongly centralised approach resulted in even minor tactical decisions being taken in the White House. But Trump is increasingly delegating broad operational control to the US Armed Forces. Consequently, America’s tacit collaboration with Russia in Syria is becoming increasingly formalised. According to the Washington Post:

“The Pentagon has stepped up communication with the Russian military over Syria, a top official said Friday as the Trump administration lays plans for future operations likely to thrust U.S. forces closer to Russian and Syrian troops.

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the United States had opened a new channel between senior U.S. and Russian military officials to discuss what Pentagon officials refer to as the “deconfliction” of ground and air operations within Syria.”

These developments also indicated increased American participation in the Syrian theatre. America usually only enters the battlefield after it considers the war has been already decided on the ground. America’s forces are not for fighting: they are only for projecting the impression of strength and for occupying land once the enemy has already been defeated. However, America needs to be careful. It previously entered Iraq and Afghanistan after judging the enemy to be defeated, but the sincere Muslim Mujahideen there arose up against the disbelieving imperial power resulting in the emaciation of American force on the ground.